this recording, and others poignantly discussed in the "greatest audience tapes" category, has sparked my imagination. that's not often it happens - because for a long time i haven't been digesting the recordings in the manner they should be heard.
the spatial breath of this recording truly captures the majesty of the Dead...one reviewer put it well, that if you have ever wanted to know what it felt like to sit on their stage, look no further. Besides that, their playing is remarkable! for only a few months after Live/Dead, it's nuanced and optimized for a small, intimate setting. Yet explosive in every way ... Bill Graham introduces them as the Seven Samurai, and i have to think he was right in some way. The Grateful Dead were chasing something ethereal, incomplete ... with this recording it's clear how much the same goes for us the viewers. Although, we should be content (satisfied) with finishing here. For a while ... Nick
edit;
I have a bit more to say after a few days of listening. turns out, each song of this set is brilliantly played. Both 'He Was a Friend of Mine' and 'Doing that Rag' are great examples of the '69 play-it-out style. That means, take a song that has normal structure and instead of doing the normal four minute treatment, spread it out and Make it dance ... granted they can't go on forever (save that for Cryptical), the songs naturally end.
'Cryptical Envelopment' is truly its own beast. the song begins as they normally do, enraptured by its introduction into drums. The latter being shorter than principle versions (can't think of any). I heard some shouting on the tape that suggests Billy and Mick were feeling themselves, plus the playing is demonstrative enough that they certainly are feeling quite liberated on this day. And, If you have to listen to any of the songs on this tape, power through this suite ... it's mechanical, yet demonstrates their technique perfectly. Bobby and Phil are playing back to back, which leaves Jerry on his own to filter his maddening tone over the bursting rhythm of the devils behind them. The organ is funny, too! It sounds like a voice, like all of their instruments are talking to one another, alive in a civic discourse.
Anyway, I would highly recommend this show to anyone interested. The fact that it's an audience tape from 1969 is unbelievable. It rivals a lot of soundboards I've heard, and to tell you the truth, I rank this one up there with a lot of the shows I've heard because it does something a lot of them don't, which is create a new perspective while listening. Close your eyes and let the sonics take your mind into a free-form shape ... Nick (10/28/2022)

Beautiful recording

Why so stingy with all the really good shows? For practically all the 1967-1969 shows, I've found nothing but "stream only" on here...what's up w/that?? I thought this whole thing was cleared up, that due to the fans who wanted to be able to collect the music, that the members of the Dead changed their mind & decided to put them up for download? Now I find that some of the most interesting shows I see are not available. That is most frustrating!!! When will something be done about this? I hope soon!

friend of mine a+. really all of it
perhaps a 80aud/20sounboard (with EQ for hiss)MATRIXmight be in order)
glad betty got to dance for once, stil would die 4 compete show feb 15 69 has some fine stuff esp mnt of the moon into darkstar, doing that rag
amazing ftooo cripical. jams etc
EXCELLENT soundboard
thanks for all

summer 68 to summer 69 is definetly the peak. check the lostsailorpub for downloads. peace

TC is really loud in the mix, uncharacteristically enough. Maybe the mikes were set up right in front of the organ.

Audience? thanks Bear

i can't believe i can download this!!

I think it's better than the CM version. Never thought I would ever say that!
This should be a MATRIX!
Peace, Bob

That cryptical envelopment jam at the end is awesome. truly a celestial moment. i liked the 11-10-1967 one but felt that sounded a bit rehearsed.

Dynamite! Great recording even if the vocals are a bit buried. This one sparkles!

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The vocals are low in the mix.
I highly recommend adding this show to your 1969 GRATEFUL DEAD Collection.
Get while you can, get it while it's free, get it now or you'll be sorry.
This is NOT an audience recording, it's a soundboard.
Me and My Uncle with Tom Constaten on organ.
Eat, Drink be Merry and listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.
Thanks for the love.

I missed this one. The Other One is great and I never knew I'd like "Rag" this much; it's not as quaint as on the record.
Too bad the Dark Star and the rest are not here too.

I was at UC Berkeley from 68 -72- Mark Szpakowski is wrong- the Peoples Park Benefit was in late May - from there he is correct- this show was fabulous- and why- ?? Because Bill Graham brought out Mongo Santa Maria to open for the Dead and the Airplane- who all played way past 2 am- so Bill called it a Private Party and had the doors locked-(he never pulled the plug) this is before Santana- the Conga's and Horn Section Mongo had lit up the room- Betty Cantor and the SBD staff were all on the floor dancing which is why there is no real sbd tape of this show... know ans was there- doubters ?? Check out the Poster section of Wolfgangs Vault- the poster verifies the Bill- the Airplane took the stage for late set at 3 am- the Dead finishing their 3rd encore at 2:30 ...aw some Morning Dew... No one had heard Mobo Music in SF- so the whole night each bad tried to out do the other - the energy was unbelievable ... Great Sho -Ok tape

Vocals are a little low,otherwise unbelievable.

hard to belive this is an aud, with exception of the vocals, seems as if tom and bobby are pluged right in to the recording, TC is especially amped, not a common event we are told. The popular 8/6/71 prehouseboat tapes have strong crowd contributions overpowering the vocals, This recording is different plays a bunch like 7/2/71, almost a mix of of aud and sound. Seems as if the acomplishments of 69 are marked strongly in march and april, and everything after until around november is a rich mix of everything, including workingmans dead material. May is no exception, especially for the tail end of the axomoxa tunes, check out doin that ride. I did and i dont regret it!

killer sound! my new favorite for spring of 69... don't miss this download!!!

Excellent Recording.

For a '69 AUD, the quality is exceptional. I'm psyched to finally have a good show where you can really hear Pigpen wailing, his stuff usually gets bogged down underneath everything else. The Other One is red hot before they even get to the first verse.

tremendouos phil on this show. The other one is insane, one of their best yet. Literally unbelievable sound quality for aud.

Bill Graham introduces "San Francisco's own Seven Samurai, the Grateful Dead" > directly into > "Heeeee he was he was a friend of mine." Real sweet version, great opener. Recording; vocals are quiet but you can hear it. Track1 "Friend Of Mine" is 11 minutes but the song starts about 1:30 in (after great audience banter and singing).

...an AUD? Hell yea! And an incredible sounding one at that. Vocals are, as previously stated, buried in the mix but still audible. But everything else is right up in front ready to smack you in the face. Jerry is absoultly stellar on the Other One and Phils sound is HUGE. The organ comes through nicely as well. He was a Friend is beautiful and Rag is nice and loose with some great innerplay between Jer and Bobby. I'm not a big fan of early MAMU's but this one is pretty good with a strong psychedelic country sound.
Yea, it would be nice if the rest of the set were here...it would be great to be able to hear that missing Dark Star. Judging what is here, it would have been hot.
Oh well, I'm still happy with whats here. Sound and performance are great. Check it out- you may find this a keeper!

performance wise, this is clutch stuff... sound for an AUD is killer condsidering the date, though the vocals are pretty buried in the mix... the reason this is a total killer is "the other one". phil is an absolute stud on this version. the tone from that old gibson bass that he played is so raw & damaged, and he's smothering this version with loads of heaviosity.
not quite as pummeling as the version from 5/2/70, but it's definitely proto that, if you dig... jerry's solo at the end of "doin' that rag" is quite burned as well... get down on it.

This is it.This is the one!!!!!!!not 5 stars...10 stars.PCM RECORDING.F'N BRILLIANT.COME ALL YEE FAITHFUL TO WINTERLAND.LISTEN CLOSLEY BEFORE HE WAS A FRIEND,AND YOU CAN HEAR BOB LEADING THE CROWD IN THIS.BEST AUD RECORING FROM THE 60/70,S

if only it was all there , this is a very solid recording you can feel 69 vibe , he was a friend of mine is very nice

This (actually 5/28/69) was a benefit concert for the People's Park Bail Fund. Playing were Aum, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane. First time I'd seen the Dead - they completely blew me away. "Pirates playing Bach", I wrote at the time.
Ferocious intensity ("The Other One" ) in total relaxation.
Correction (thnx to JackStraw7313 below, and to a copy of the poster that's reprinted on p. 18 of "Grateful Dead: The Official Book of the Dead Heads", and to some Googling): the People's Park Bail Fund benefit was on May 28th.

Bill Grahm had sent the Mombo King of New York (before Santana hit the Scene)to Winterland- Mongo Sanamaria (when Herb Hancock played piano for him) was the OPENING Act for the DEadd and The Jefferson Airplane !! The place ROCKED from the moent of the first note.. all night ..which is why not much of the Dead's 2 sets and 1 hr long encore exist- Betty Canter and the whole SBD Crew where on the floor dancing !- and the Dead finsihed at 2:30 am before the Airplances 2nd set- so Bill Grahm locked the Doors.. called it a private party the Bands Played on until 7 am.... Nothing ever like it again- Mogo got it started and everyone got fierd up with each set ... Enjoy whats here !